Tuesday 24th June 2025
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
By: Zacharia Jalloh, Strategic Communications Unit, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
At the weekly press conference held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, senior government officials provided the public with updates on a range of national issues. These included clarifications on the country’s Stand Alone 5G network launch, progress on electoral reform through the Tripartite Committee, preparations for a national electoral dialogue, and new insights from the 2025 Afro-Barometer report. Below are the key highlights.
Minister Chernor Bah Responds to Dubawa’s 5G Fact-Check
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, firmly addressed a claim made by the fact-checking platform Dubawa, which alleged that the Ministry made a false claim regarding Sierra Leone’s launch of the first Stand-Alone 5G network in West Africa.
Minister Bah clarified the distinction between two types of 5G infrastructure: one that builds on existing 4G networks, and the more advanced Stand-Alone 5G, which is built independently. He pointed out that Dubawa confused the two and called on the platform to rectify its error. While acknowledging Dubawa’s valuable work, Minister Bah encouraged media and fact-checking organisations to verify such claims directly with the Ministry to ensure accuracy and credibility. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to factual, timely, and transparent information sharing.
Dr. Emmanuel Gaima Explains the Purpose of the Tripartite Committee
Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, Senior Executive Adviser to the President on the Public Service and Head of the Public Sector Reform Unit, provided a detailed explanation of the rationale behind the formation of the Tripartite Committee.
Following the June 2023 elections, both the main opposition party (APC) and the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) raised concerns about structural and financial challenges within the electoral system. In response, President Julius Maada Bio, during his address in Parliament, proposed the establishment of an Electoral Management Reform Committee chaired by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
To ensure neutrality, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion later recommended an independent facilitator, resulting in the appointment of former Gambian Vice President Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang. Following three days of intense discussions at the Bintumani Conference Center, the stakeholders adopted eight resolutions, including the creation of the Tripartite Committee. This body includes representatives from the Government, the APC, and the UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana.
Tripartite Committee Report and Key Recommendations
Dr. Gaima reported that within six months, the Tripartite Committee submitted a report to President Bio, containing 80 actionable recommendations and an implementation plan. A major focus was on Electoral Management Bodies. One key recommendation is that the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone should undergo a Functional Management Review six months after the report’s submission.
This review will assess the commission’s mandate, structure, staffing, logistics, internal processes, and more, to ensure credible and uncontested future elections.
Dr. Gaima also addressed Resolution 4, which tackled APC concerns about political detentions. While the APC claimed that about 300 of their members were detained, the committee found the actual number to be significantly lower. He added that the type of electoral system Sierra Leone adopts will be decided by the people, and consultations are ongoing through the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Ngolo Katta Outlines Implementation and National Dialogue
Ngolo Katta, Head of the Tripartite Secretariat, informed the public that the Steering Committee overseeing the implementation of the recommendations includes government representatives, parliamentarians, Paramount Chiefs, CSOs, mayors, and the All Political Parties Association (APPA).
The Secretariat has been actively engaging with political leaders, civil society organisations, and other relevant institutions across the country to implement the 80 recommendations. One major focus is Recommendation 78, which calls for a National Dialogue to determine the future electoral system of Sierra Leone. Katta confirmed that this National Dialogue will be held in July 2025.
Afro-Barometer Insights: Citizen Perceptions on Governance
Dr. Fredline M’Cormack-Hale, Director of Research and Programs at the Institute for Governance Reform, presented findings from the latest Afro-Barometer Report, which captures citizen perspectives on key governance issues. According to the report, 72% of respondents said the government has performed well or very well in preventing and handling violent conflict, while 64% reported a crime reduction.
Additionally, 53% noted improvements in basic health services, and 69% acknowledged progress in education delivery. Dr. M’Cormack-Hale also highlighted the economic impact of the 2022 political unrest, revealing that the 30-day national lockdown resulted in an estimated loss of NLe 460 million. Significantly, concerns around ethnic-based targeting have declined. In the previous report, 59% of citizens believed the government did not discriminate based on ethnicity; this figure has now increased to 69%, indicating growing public confidence in the government’s fairness.
